Elisa “Mini” Meneghini, the Rio 2016 Olympic athlete, took the gold at the floor final event at the 11th World Cup in Doha. With a score of 13,333, the Corporal of the Italian Army – coached by Claudià Ferrè – won the title together with the Belgian Axelle Klinkaert and the Korean Kim Su Jong.
A similar episode occurred recently during the 2015 Glasgow World Championships. On that occasion, four gymnasts shared the highest step of the podium at the uneven bars final in ex aequo with a score of 15,366. The last medal won by an Italian gymnast in a World Cup competition dates back June 26th 2016, in Anadia, where Vanessa Ferrari took the bronze in the floor routine as well.
Another Corporal of the Italian Army, Lara Mori – here in Qatar with her coach Stefania Bucci – ranked fourth with a personal score of 13.266, despite performing an excellent routine. Lara, native from Tuscany, a floor finalist at Cluj Napoca European Championships and at the 2017 Montreal World Championships, confirmed to be one of the best in this event.
The Italian Gymnastics team concluded this experience in Doha with a visit to the Ambassador of Italy to Qatar, Pasquale Salzano. The Ambassador invited all the FGI staff, leaded by Giuseppe Cocciaro, to his Residence. Another special way of being proud to be Italian, after the Tricolore was hoisted on the highest step of the podium at the Aspire Academy.